Serving St. Louis: Campus Y Student Leader Kate Choi Receives The Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award from the WashU Gephardt Institute

April 13, 2026

Kate Choi, a Campus Y program leader and the 2024-2025 Campus Y Student Director, is being awarded the Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award from the WashU Gephardt Institute in recognition for the impact of her service to the St. Louis area during her time at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU).

Kate Choi didn’t arrive at WashU with a goal of joining a student volunteer organization or with any knowledge of the Campus Y, but all that changed when she learned about Dear Power from another student and signed up to volunteer.

“We worked with youth to empower them to say that they can achieve their dreams just by dreaming. You don't have to have the resources. You just need to have passion and the fire in order to achieve your dreams.” — Kate Choi

After starting to volunteer with the Campus Y she quickly got involved with another volunteer program: Promoting Active Lifestyles (PALs). PALs is a program designed to combat child obesity through youth nutritional advocacy and engagement. After spending time with elementary and middle school students, educating them on nutrition, she discovered that while she loved working with youth her true passion was in the educational aspect of her work.

“I had a two year gap from schooling for my education because I had a brain tumor. I think not going to school, as weird as it is, made me realize I really missed having tests and studying. It made me really think education is a privilege.” — Kate Choi

Her history led her to changing the program known as America Reads at the Campus Y.

“I learned about this literacy issue in St. Louis, where 80% of third graders are not reading at grade level. And after third grade you're actually not taught to read anymore. Students are taught with the assumption that they know how to read and so if you are not caught up by third grade you are falling tremendously behind.” — Kate Choi

America Reads was originally a program designed to provide homework help to St. Louis students, but under Choi’s leadership it shifted to provide a more concentrated effort on literacy tutoring for greater impact. She actively worked to expand the program to add additional library locations and one St. Louis Public School. America Reads program growth couldn’t happen without additional support. Choi helped recruit 25 volunteers and expanded the program’s reach to include five community partners. All these efforts have changed real St. Louis students' lives for the better.

Choi remarked, ‘a lot of the kids would hug me and be like, 'Thank you so much. I really like going to school now. I enjoy learning now.” It was really nice to see that.’ — Kate Choi

Choi took her leadership further, serving as the Campus Y Student Director her senior year. As Student Director, she led the Campus Y Executive Board and helped support all 23 of the Campus Y’s programs and promote volunteer opportunities to WashU students.

“I have done service for my entire college career. I think that we tend to see service as serving others. But I really think it goes both ways. When I'm serving people, I feel like I'm learning so much. I'm learning their perspective on the world.” — Kate Choi

Choi believes more people would benefit from taking on a volunteer role with a program whose mission they’re passionate about.

“I think volunteering is definitely something that everyone should take part in,” she said. “Campus Y provides everything such as transportation, resources, and so you really don't have to do anything.” — Kate Choi

Choi graduated from WashU in 2025 with Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Neuroscience and is now based out of Houston, Texas where she attends McGovern Medical School.

Serving St. Louis: Campus Y Student Leader Kate Choi Receives The Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award from the WashU Gephardt Institute

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